Romney’s Possible Cabinet Part 1: Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans’ Affairs
- Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:46am by
Mytheos Holt
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This is part one of a series on Mitt Romney’s potential cabinet appointments.
In the event that Mitt Romney is elected to the oval office, he will face some of the most consequential and difficult choices any president has faced in the modern era. Probably the first of those choices will be the selection of a cabinet. And while it’s highly unlikely that Romney, who still has to chart a course to victory, has started making up serious lists for these positions, his advisers are almost certainly thinking about it. As such, we wanted to start taking a look at potential people that Romney might choose, in the event that he’s elected. Therefore, this article will be the first in a series of articles examining the various people Romney could choose to replace President Barack Obama’s current cabinet.
For this first article, we take a look at the most apolitical of Romney’s potential cabinet appointments – that is, appointments that received unanimous support from the United States Senate when President Obama made his choices. Three cabinet positions stick out in this respect – namely, the Secretaries of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans’ Affairs (VA). In selecting candidates, we narrowed the choices down to three people, one of which would be the “safe choice,“ one of which would be the ”exciting choice,“ and one of which would be a ”wild card.”
So without further ado, here are some likely candidates for those roles.
Secretary of Agriculture
Mike Johanns
The safe choice: Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska
Why? He’s the co-chair of Romney’s Agriculture Advisory Committee, and has already done the job once under George W. Bush. He knows his way around the Agriculture Department, and has had three years in the Senate to build connections, making him an easy confirmation.
Why not? There’s no guarantee Johanns would take the job again. And even if he would, Romney might not want to put any Bush appointees in his cabinet, given the former president’s acrimonious reputation even among Republicans. Moreover, even if Romney were willing to take that risk, appointing Johanns could lead to messy political theater, and provide the Democrats with their first talking point “proving” that Romney is really just bent on going back to the “failed policies” of the past.
Adam Putnam
The exciting choice: Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam
Why? Romney clearly trusts Putnam, so much so that he’s also a co-chair of Romney’s Agriculture Advisory Committee, alongside Johanns. However, unlike Johanns, he’d bring some new blood to the table, and would be a pick consistent with Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate. Putnam also has Congressional experience, meaning that he could easily interface with Republicans in Congress.
Why not? No private sector experience, and Romney could be hesitant to elevate someone from being agriculture commissioner for a single state (albeit a populous one) to being agriculture commissioner for the entire country.
Chuck Conner
The Wild Card: Chuck Conner, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
Why? He’s a former deputy decretary of agriculture. He’s a CEO. He‘s on Romney’s Agriculture Advisory Committee. He’s a former farmer himself. That covers pretty much the entire checklist.
Why not? Despite his impressive jack-of-all trades status, he’s not a co-chair of Romney’s Agriculture Advisory Committee, and doesn‘t appear to be viewed as a leading figure in thinking about the topic among Romney’s surrogates. He has the most recent relevant experience, but he’s not the only CEO with Agriculture Department experience Romney could pick, and it’s difficult to see what makes him unique. Respect as a leader from the president is key, and we don’t see much evidence that Conner is seen this way anymore than any other agriculture adviser Romney has.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Richard Shelby
The safe choice: Senator Richard Shelby, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Why? Shelby has been following these issues as a Senator since 1986. He also is unlikely to want to run for Senate again, since he next comes up for reelection in 2016, by which time he would be in his 80′s. Picking him gives the Alabama GOP time to put in place a younger incumbent, and provides a good capstone to Shelby’s lengthy career in public service.
Why not? Besides it being unclear that he’d take the job, Shelby is viewed by many as a moderate Republican, and may also be considered too old for a cabinet position. If the GOP takes the Senate, he may also want the Committee Chairmanship more than the Cabinet.
Rick Baker
The exciting choice: Rick Baker, former Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida
Why? Baker is already Romney’s key Urban policy adviser, according to Forbes. He’s also written a book describing a form of “conservative urban revitalization that can work anywhere.” He’d be a strong ideological choice, but would also be able to get some support from urban Democrats, given his ideas about investing heavily in downtown areas.
Why not? Going from being mayor of a city to being national Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will involve a steep learning curve. His conservative ideology could also provoke barbs during the confirmation process.
The Wild Card: Not picking a Secretary
Why? Because Romney has floated the idea of abolishing the Department of Housing and Urban Development as a budget-cutting measure. It would send an early signal that he really isn’t afraid to cut fat, and would inspire confidence among the ideological core of his own party.
Why not? Abolishing HUD would be a nasty political fight early in Romney’s term, especially given that Romney’s father used to run the Department. Democrats would fight tooth and nail, and Romney might calculate that the battle would drain too much political capital.
Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs
Richard Burr
The safe choice: North Carolina Senator Richard Burr.
Why? Burr is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He’s been surveying this issue since 2005, and presumably knows a ton on the issue. He also has four years left on his term, which would be more than enough time for a replacement to make a name for him/herself and gain the advantages of incumbency, in a state that has been drifting Republican this year. He has little private sector experience, but knows the relevant actors, and for Romney, that might be all that matters.
Why Not? Burr’s lack of any identifiable diversity and lack of private sector experience could make him look too much like a go-along-to-get-along nominee for an administration that may need to make drastic choices about Veterans’ care, and like a step back in terms of racial diversity relative to the current Veterans’ Affairs Secretary, Eric Shinseki.
Josue Robles
The Exciting Choice: Josue Robles, CEO of USAA
Why? Robles has it all. A Republican Latino with private sector experience in the insurance industry and 28 years of Army experience. He’s both a veteran and the kind of Mr. Fix-it that Romney would probably love to have at VA, especially if Romney plans to overhaul the broken Veterans’ health system.
Why not? To begin with, it’s dubious that Robles would want to leave USAA for this post. Also, while he may be a Republican, Romney might not look kindly on his support for Romney’s erstwhile rival, Texas Governor Rick Perry.
Eric Shinseki
The Wild Card: Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs
Why? Even President Obama didn‘t toss out his predecessor’s entire cabinet. Shinseki was confirmed unanimously, and has escaped the kind of politicization that many other appointees have received, and could be an easy, low-cost choice that enables Romney to retain the image of being bipartisan.
Why not? He’s an Obama appointee, and depending on how aggressively Romney wants to overhaul the VA system, Shinseki could be a roadblock to Romney’s agenda.
So there’s the first round of people Romney could pick. Stay tuned for more potential choices in the upper-level cabinet positions.
Next time: Who Romney could pick to lead the Departments of Commerce, Interior and Transportation.
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Comments (102)
BashfulBob
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 12:14pmIf they really want to stop the deficit and cut the spending.
Report Post »stop allowing congress and the senate a pension after twp years service,
they took those jobs,most of them not caring If they were re-relected
or not, just for that perk——–no where else can you work two or four years and
get a lifetime pension.
soybomb315_II
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:40pmI’m interested in knowing who his Czars will be
Report Post »Noah_fing-whey
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 12:00pmReally this piece is a lot of BS. There are a lot of qualified candidates who would be equal to or substantially better than the people on this list. I am also not sure I accept the premise that Bush people will be an acrimonious choice. Who is Mytheous Holt anyway?
Report Post »soybomb315_II
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:47pmgood God – i would almost rather have 4 more years of Obama and then tea party president than 8 years of Bushism
Report Post »californiapatriotmom
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:54amLet’s have Rudy Guiliani for Attorney General. He’s a no-nonsense guy who will clean up that department starting at the very top with Holder.
Report Post »ChildOfTheKing
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 12:00pmIn order to defend the Constitution you must understand it and those who oppose it. And no group has been more hostile to the Constitution and America’s founding principles than the Progressives.
The choice we face is simple: between those who wish to preserve and uphold the U.S. Constitution (those who believe in the principles of liberty and limited government as laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution) on one hand, and Progressives (those who believe government to be the solution to any possible problem) on the other.
Starting on September 4, 2012, distinguished members of the Hillsdale faculty will teach ten classes on how America, over time, went from its founding as a constitutional republic to the doorstep of a bureaucratic despotism, under arbitrary rule of the administrative state and the Progressive political agenda.
In order to understand the Progressive challenge to the Constitution and America’s founding principles, you must understand how, over time — from early Progressives like Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, to FDR’s “New Deal” and Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society,” and right up to 2012 with those in Congress and in the White House — Progressives have openly rejected America’s founding principles. This has given rise to the ever-growing “4th branch of government,” the massive administrative bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.
https://constitution.hillsdale.edu/201/Constitution-ENH002-101
Report Post »Chinishque
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:02pmWe need Sheriff Joe as AG!
Report Post »katherinec
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:16amOh, let us not be wimps and think too small; Mark Levin for Attorney General, Pat Buchanan for Secretary of State, and Ron Paul for Treasury Secretary, Rick Santorum for Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Joe Arpayo for Director of Homeland Security. Let us pick cabinet members who have actually thought and acted in the sphere of which they are nominated rather than just fellow college instructors or payback for campaign contributions.
Report Post »whereareyourbrains
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:43amIf Mitt becomes responsible for taking us out of debt…..why is he ditzing the T. Party? This is what the T. Party people want. Stop spending and be fically responsible…He is doing eactly what we want.
Report Post »He will balance the budget…actually have one…He is not ditzing the T. Party…………dah
soybomb315_II
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:48pmwait a minute….how did you come to the conclusion that he could eliminate the deficit? How?
Report Post »Yakov-Yurovsky
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:39amI kind of feel bad for Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, two distinguished Americans. The neocons and their cohorts had them lie to the American people so they could implement, “Securing the Realm”. It’s not their fault. They were given false information from some of the highest levels of government! lol The neocons will use anybody to get what they want. What a shame!
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:48amI feel bad for them because one is a career academic with no real-world experience and the other is a poser – never was conservative. Only allowed the lie to be perpetuated to further his career. Not wrong, mind you, but not what real leaders do.
Report Post »CuriousCat
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:51amI agree. That is too often the case with well meaning public servants, but the cowardice of them is inexusable. They should come out after the fact and disclose that, to raise the level of integrity in government. As far as what the cabinet will look like. I am sure they will be Democrats at heart like Mitt. Empty suites, weakneed weathervanes that won’t do anything for liberty and freedome in the long run, while protecting their own special interest, and that of the international bankers.
Sure he is not as bad as Obama, but if the Tparty goes home thinking the battle is won by having Mitt as the president, then I fear that we would be better of with Obama, who has stimulated a tremendous movement we see in the T Party. So htat is why I will be voting for Gary Johnson.
Yes. Obama is evil and the 2016 movie only goes into part of it. For the un edited version watch this:
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw
Gonzo
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:27pmConcise and completely accurate Hauschild.
Report Post »sooner1964
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:33amRomney could make significant changes relatively easy. He could maintain the Dept. of State professional staff and not appoint a Sec. of State. The President usually is his own Sec. of State, while the holder of the position is sent to various locales to represent the President; Combine Energy, Labor, Commerce, Agriculture and transportation to this departmentinto with one Secretary; Combine Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services and Education in Health, Education and Welfare (familiar) with one Secretary (This department would operate as Defense with Ast. Sec., for each major comonent. Staff size would be reduced considerably; Combine Veterans Affairs into the Dept. of Defense, with Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. If I missed a department, close it!
Report Post »TOPOFTHEGAME
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:32amCondi is part of the”"”“ one per cent””"”" a CFR member for years…. This is all we need is NWO ”””LITE””’. Also didn’t like the ”’Right Out of the Box”” rule changes for the GOP on the next republican convention in 2016, they ( GOP ) are trying to cutting out the “”“T ””"” Party
Report Post »joan k
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:59amA bevy of CFR members will surround him making sure that he stays the course for the international Banking elite’s design to remake the world into a one world government, implementing more abuses of our civil rights (aka by removing our Bill of Rights) by expanding the Patriot Act, the TSA, and other laws that will erode our Liberties.
Report Post »kenboo1
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:53amWhy are we so worried about “bipartisan” visuals, why not do whats right and move forward…
Report Post »TADTAD
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:11amExactly. Lead by example. Forget compromise. Compromising is compromising.
Report Post »RobMac03
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:12amWhen the San Andreaous fault finally does its job the country can stop worrying about the constant nagging from the radical left
Report Post »TerryJ70
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:27amHe probably wouldn’t do it, but I would ask Glenn Beck to head the Dept. of Education with the task of dismantling the entire structure.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:45amSo, are people beginning to understand Glenn Beck’s success, and his support of Mitt Romney yet? Oh a decade of personal friendship might have something to do with it.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:49amMormons think God is talking to them mostly when it has to do with finances.
Report Post »QuincySmith
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:53amOne way to (help) balance the budget would be to eliminate any cabinet position (and department) established after 1849. Is Romney up to eliminating these departments? I don’t know, but if trying to save a corporation, these departments would be sure ‘targets’ (pardon the violence).
Report Post »Man-On-A-Mission
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:57amSo a former alcoholic and more of a comedian than a serious talk show host……
I would not want this man near my kids……..
Report Post »mtcountrygrl
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:01amI would like to see him make Newt the WH press secretary, just to make the briefings fun to watch!
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:08am@Watersworld So, Glenn Beck and Romney are pals? Both winners? Um, so, are you jealous or what? and oh what are your creds on God and Mormons? Are they all friends? I thought that was Quakers.
Report Post »The topic is political appointees but this is more fun in the sun, right? Just fill in the blanks a b or c fills up space.
watersRpeople
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:23amTEXASGRANNY73,
Report Post »No, no, I’m not jealous of people who call themselves [Saints] as in “Latter Day Saints.” Because even Jesus didn’t call himself the Son of God, but that they did, and even John the Baptist wouldn’t call himself Elias, but that Jesus did call him that. Oh believe me I’m not jealous, no, no, no.
I support God's Israel!
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:34am@watersRpeople:
God talks to ALL FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST through the Holy Spirit. So, it is very clear you DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, but would rather be degrading and mean-spirited, attacking religion and people’s beliefs, when you have NONE.
Be very, very, very careful when you talk about God in ANY WAY.
God does repay those who do NOT belong to Him.
Judgment Day is coming for those WHO DO NOT KNOW JESUS.
TRUE followers of Christ WILL NOT HAVE A JUDGMENT DAY because they have already been sanctified and forgiven. They will only be rewarded for what they have done for Christ.
Be very careful with what you say. IT COULD BE HELD AGAINST YOU BY GOD.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:50amI support God’s Israel!,
Report Post »Gee, thanks for the warning. You know the best way to support Israel is to go over there to show how much you support them.
watersRpeople
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:52amI support God’s Israel!,
Report Post »And I’m not just talking about God, because it‘s just right there in the Gospels that John the Baptist wouldn’t even call himself Elias – Elijah – whichever you prefer.
Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:23am“The economy is struggling because the government is too big, and we’re going to bring it down to size.” Mitt Romney, 4/16/2012 Philadelphia, PA
Ok, here are all the cabinet position and departments in the executive branch. Pick one, Mr. Romney, that you will not fill and do away with. Just one. Not going to get greedy and demand a return to 1789 standards…JUST DO AWAY WITH ONE.
State – 1789
Report Post »Treasury-1789
Defense -1789
Justice -1789
Navy – 1798
Interior -1849
Agriculture -1862
Commerce -1913
Labor -1913
Housing and Urban Development – 1965
Transportation -1966
Energy -1977
Health and Human Services -1979
Education -1979
Veterans Affairs -1988
Homeland Security -2002
Noah_fing-whey
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:39amThe Department of Education is my first choice. Symbolically it would be huge. Next would be Dept of Homeland Tyranny…I mean Homeland Security followed closely by HUD. But then there‘s the Dept of Energy which is nothing more than a rat’s nest of environmentalists! Maybe Mitt needs to shutter one a year for 8 years.
Report Post »Belwraith
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:12amEPA!…or a least a major downsizing and power revocation…
Report Post »I support God's Israel!
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:44am(CONDOLEEZA RICE) –>State – 1789
Report Post »OVERHAUL (Investigate) –>Treasury-1789
(APPOINT LEADERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY PRO-AMERICAN) –>>Defense -1789
OVERHAUL: –>Justice -1789
DEFENSE DEPT –> Navy – 1798
ABOLISH (GIVE LAND BACK TO AMERICANS) —>Interior -1849
ABOLISH SUBSIDIES AND LET THE FARMERS RULE THEMSELVES —>Agriculture -1862
BRING JOBS BACK TO AMERICA –> Commerce -1913
SEND BACK TO THE STATES (Abolish) –> Labor -1913
SEND BACK TO THE STATES (Abolish) –> Housing and Urban Development – 1965
SEND BACK TO THE STATES (Abolish) –> Transportation -1966
OVERHAUL (LET THE PIPELINE GO THRU) –>Energy -1977
SEND BACK TO THE STATES (Abolish) –> Health and Human Services -1979
SEND BACK TO THE STATES (Abolish) –> Education -1979
OVERHAUL (our military need much more than we are giving them!!!!) Veterans Affairs -1988
OVERHAUL (Get rid of the PATRIOT ACT) –>Homeland Security -2002
CuriousCat
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:59amI agree with you, but Mitt has shown to be a weakneed weathervane who is Republican in name only according to his own statement. (go look it up on youtube).
He as an executor had the gaul of starting a socialist health care system called RomneyCare, which was used as the excuse to pass Obama Care. The fact is that Romney has more in common with Obama than he has with Ron Paul. So this will be the year the LIbertarian Party will enter the stage, and this might be the beginning of the end of the GOP, as they have moved so far away from the prinicples of small government and the Consittution. I would not be surpricsed if they will go the way of the Wigs. Check this out: http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:23amThe quicker, the better.
Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
Chromo200
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:07amI hope for change this Nov. I believe that in the long run most people will vote for Mitt. I suggest the following:
NO MORE CZARS …
Dept Ed gets dismantled and if not reorganized down to an agency that is the conduit to distribute any monies to the states that should be monitoring of the education of our populace.
Report Post »EPA .. back to an agency and not Dept.
Agriculture – reorganize and reduce the workforce.
Commerce .. not necessary .. international commerce can be done under State.
State .. Too many people at Foggy Bottoms and in Embassies.
HUD & HSS and agency where they monitor states and only monitor.
NASA .. back to it’s original mission and stay out of politics.
FBI back to it original glory days without a blackmailer for a director.
DOJ get rid of corrupt lawyers .. tough since there not many honest ones.
Labor, Interior, Transportation one agency
DOE .. Dismantle.
Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:26amWhen Romney said this, I’ll assume he meant the government and not the economy being brought down to size.
“The economy is struggling because the government is too big, and we’re going to bring it down to size.” Mitt Romney, 4/16/2012 Philadelphia, PA
Now given that, I’d hope he would eliminate some cabinet level departments or even just one. But, it think it should go without saying that he’d have zero “Czars” don’t you think?
Report Post »Tutis
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:49amIt will be refreshing to have a POTUS who actually MEETS WITH HIS CABINET!
Report Post »jedidiah
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:16amWhy didn’t he just throw darts at a list of the Harvard faculty? Has anyone ever tried that? I wonder how stocking a cabinet with “the best and the brightest” would work out.
Report Post »Bloody Sam
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:19amI want John Bolton for Secretary of State. Time to start kicking arses.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:49amUnfortunately candidates aren’t picked for what they know but what they look like and come from.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:51amBLOODY SAM:
Report Post »You go straight to the top. I wonder if Romney will do the same, or just nibble around the edges.
LuvsYeshua
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:55amAs a long time USAA member, I really hope he doesn’t choose Josue Robles. I like USAA because they don’t have government stains on their dress like the others do (B of A, Wells Fargo, etc.). I will definitely vote against Obama, but that doesn’t mean I trust Romney one iota.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:01am@BloodySam
John Bolton, I second that!
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:12ammr bomb iran, israel before america man, no thank you, good reason not to vote romney.
Report Post »Lordbowler
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:13amJohn Bolton – UN
Allan West – Sec Def
Pete Hegseth – Veterans Affairs (Lost republican primary)
Ben Quayle – Nasa (Lost republican primary due to redistricting), was on subcommittee for Space, Science and Technology.
Chris Christi as Press Secretary (never happen, but we can dream…)
Report Post »guitarspook
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:30amBolton is a ultra neo-con idiot. The guy salivates at bombing Iran…If you think Iraq was moronic, this is gonna be a cluster if there ever was one. Screw the UN as it’s nothing more than a vehicle for socialism,
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:43amVeterans Affairs: Why not choose a wounded Veteran? Once you’ve been there, getting rid of the smoke and mirrors should be easy. You can’t beat experience.
Report Post »LuvsYeshua
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:03amI’m not exactly sure why someone would tout John Bolton as someone who should be in charge. At this point in time we do not need more and more conflicts.
Instead of having all those departments (most of which should be dismantled), have only one: The Department of Government Accountability led by Ted Nugent.
Report Post »Capt_Gregg
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:35am@chips1
Report Post »Been there, done that. Remember Max Cleland? Triple amputee from Viet Nam who was Sec. of Veterans Affairs under Clinton. He did, at best, a mediocre job. (I speak from experience, having worked for the VA before, during and after Cleland was Sec.) The cabinet post should be abolished, and the VA returned to the DoD. The one criticism I have of Reagan’s presidency was moving the VA from DoD to a cabinet position.
Lordbowler
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:57amI dislike the UN as much as anyone.
And speaking of NeoCons, Romney is a NeoCon as well. As much as I hope Romney will move to the right, I’m not expecting too much beyond getting the economy in shape. Then we can elect a true Conservative. It will take a few Presidents to walk back the Bush/Obama expansion of Government.
Unless we pull out of the UN completely, which is preferred, Bolton at least would be a “safe” choice for Romney to make. After all the Liberal Senate under Bush wouldn’t approve him.
As for bombing Iran, that may happen anyway with Obama eliminating every ally we had in the Middle East (Egypt, Yemen-tenuous at best, and Lybia-No ally of US but did stop direct funding of Terror). Now all three are Muslim Brotherhood controlled.
Pete Hegseth is Veteran of Iraq, but is not a wounded vet. Is being wounded a requirement for Veteran Affairs?
Report Post »iamsaved
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:12amShinseki? The man who introduced the black beret as standard fare for the Army about 10 or 12 years ago?
Report Post »phrogdriver
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:36amMy thoughts exactly. The guy is 100% progressive robot and should be fired on day 1. Bush made the mistake of keeping a lot of Clinton’s generals and we paid for it in blood.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:09amHow come we don’t hear men get up there saying “Well, we all know it’s tough to be a man, and as a survivor of Prostate Cancer I know what tough is all about as many men also know. But as tough as all that was, nothing is more tough than trying to get my wife to raise my children up to me in an age when it isn’t popular, and my lack of hands on manipulating in the lives and experiences of my children irritates my wife even though that’s the best way for children to learn – so my wife will probably divorce me because she is impressionable by Society. All that aside I think my wife appreciates that we have a great house which I make the payment on, and she‘d probably live off daddy’s money if it wasn’t for my own. But we as men know that women are staying up late at night worrying about what kind of degree and how much money their children will make, and whether or not the daughter is gonna where the right dress to Prom. But us men we go to bed at 8 pm going right to sleep, because we apparently have less to worry about than women – well except for the depression many men go into in their forties and never come out of – dying from a heart attack before 65 years old. But I digress, we need to put the focus on women, because we all know there wouldn’t be the automobile, airplanes, the sewing machine, modern mathematics, and neither would we have religion, and a universe if it wasn’t for women inventing it all.”
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:37amHoly cow, someone out in never, never must have awakened with a bad hair day. The men don’t get depressed in their forties and never come back out of it, they find a consolation prize their daughter’s age who is only in it for the dough (why else bother) or he didn’t marry her but will at a later date after all the kids benefits run out. Whew. Sounds like some major jealousy after a successful opening night at the convention where all the women were stand out stand up and ready to be counted not to mention morals and beauty hey hey the girl can’t help it or can she? Wow, that war on women just sort of loses it’s old patina sounding clamor of the seventies (ahh the good old days but who wants em?) and sanity prevails. The cure for jealousy is comb hair put on lipstick, dipstick and positive up (get real) and get over it. Go girls. Side note:True age lies somewhere nearer 85 as men live longer these days.
Report Post »Rightlife
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:05amIt only took 15 min for Cristy to mention him in his speech last night!!!
Report Post »He will not be president.. Obama has already won. We picked a loser.
sWamby
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:14amYankee liberals picked him, conservatives didn’t.
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:55amBaloney. Last night was Ann Romney’s night out.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:05amI‘m guessing Ron Paul won’t be picked for Secretary of State…I know it’s just a guess, not a conspiracy!
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:13amZionist traitor John Bolton will be.
Report Post »therealconservative
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:21am@indiv
No the traitor is you.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:41amIndi, everytime you type something, it just confirms how you and your fellow paulbots share the same tolerance as liberals…Hence you are all…Liberals.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:47amdon’t lecture me about tolerance when your committing mass murder on muslims overseas.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:57amIndi, muslims have been committing mass murder amongst themselves for the past 1500 years….Cry me and effing river…
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:02amlike christians did in europe to each other as well.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:17amYou mean like they STILL are?…I haven’t heard. You must have from the Alex Jones network. Glad I don’t tune in…Nice try. Cry me another effing river…
Report Post »WindyDualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:03amShinseki was the moron that thought it would be groovy to have all members of the army, legs and fems and all, wear a black beret, bought from china, so as to feel special without the work and sacrifice aspect getting in the way.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:59amno cabinet because he won’t be president.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:06amLiberal propaganda.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:12amObama in the polls has more than the electoral votes required to win and leads by atleast a few points in all swing states and in national polls leads as well. Romney is only getting more and more behind and getting hated even more everyday.
Report Post »team1blazer
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:13amDream on indy, your boy king is getting sent back to Chicago (or Kenya)
Report Post »EndTheGOPTEA
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:17amIdiots only know what Fox and the other Propaganda sites are telling them,, They keep saying Romney is ahead and give some Rassmison poll that is all BS..
They don’t know truth,
Obama has already won, it is over and in November you will be very sad.
Report Post »BetterInformed
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:30am@ind
Report Post »You and the other 63 people that tune in to msnbc just keep buying in to that swing state bs. Change your screen name to “insignificant”. Life is tough. It‘s even tougher when you’re stupid.
WindyDualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:33amNot even RP for border control or at least weed czar? Johnson for far east something or other?
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:39am“your boy” did you know back in the jim crow days, racist white men refer to a black male as boy. btw i am really for Gary Johnson but i would prefer Obama over Romney.
Report Post »BetterInformed
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:41am@endthebraindeadlibs
Just like the polls indicated that recall effort would succeed is in Wisconsin. Walker won by 8 points and the state will likely go GOP in November. Romney will win. You need not worry President Romney will continue giving you the hand out you require since you’re obviously unable to make it on your own.
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:24am@ Individualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:59am
“no cabinet because he won’t be president.”
INDIVIDUALISM, you better HOPE there will be CHANGE for your financial benefit aswellas mine!
Report Post »Belwraith
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:29amIndi, did you know that today, when someone speaks to me about my son they say “your boy”… get over your leftist training for racial coding.
Report Post »WindyDualism
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:30am“Indy”
Report Post »You are the exact reason wind bag indy types are not needed right now. Non issues. Roll in the mud with the moron endonthegoptea crack pot. Show some intestinal fortitued and change your pic to 0. Will it be Roseanne Barr next week? Meds are made for bi-polar whack jobs you know. Seek help, or just piss off.
LameLiberals
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:59amCabinets and federal departments are THE PROBLEM.
With the exception of defense, ALL of them should be DISMANTLED and the employees FIRED.
This is WHY Romney is NOT the answer. He and Ryan will NOT get rid of the Dept of Education, Energy, Agriculture, etc. Romney CAVED to Iowa and supported ethanol subsidies FORCING ALL OF US to not only pay farmers to grow the corn to waste on ethanol but FORCE US TO PUT IT INTO OUR VEHICLES!!! How FREE MARKET IT THAT???
I am voting from Romney/Ryan ONLY out of fear of a 2nd Obama term NOT because I trust or respect either man because BOTH of them supported TARP, GM bail out, gun control, NDAA Patriot Act, and EVERY CRAPPY HUGE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT and CABINET ever invented.
Report Post »Patrick
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:57amDepartment of Health and Human Services: Chris Christie? lol, just kidding.
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:53amDept. of Agriculture- got to be Drew Carey. About time we sold all that federal land back to the states as long as “The Price is Right”.
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:51amHousing and Urban Development is a no-brainer- got to give it to Ty Pennington. Just pretend he’s a democrat and overlook his DUI arrest.
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